Cigarette package and matchbook holder



June 2, 1953 w. D. DUNN 2,640,588

CIGARETTE PACKAGE AND MATCHBOOK HOLDER Filed Sept. 8, 1950 William 17. Dunn 9515' WJA/ damn/M Patented June 2, 1953 UNIT D STATES PATENT CIGARETTE PACKAGE AND MATCHBQTOK HOLDER I WilliamD. punaimaen, N Application September 8, 1950,Serial;N:o. 183,687

This invention relates to match holders and more particularly to a match holder adapted to be applied to a conventional package of cig- 2 Claims. (01. 206-38) arettes and to hold a conventional packet of book matches such as are commonly used by cigarette smokers.

The invention has as a primary object to provide an improved holder for book matches capable of being attached to or carried by a package of cigarettes, which is simple in construction; inexpensive to manufacture; light in weight; and which adds very little in bulk to the combined bulk of the cigarette package and the match book.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for book matches which may serve, additionally, as a closure for the opened upper end of a package of cigarettes, thereby keeping the cigarettes fresh yet afiording ready access to the cigarettes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder for book matches, adapted to be fitted to a package of cigarettes, which may be made of plastic material by a simple moulding operation.

These and other objects have been attained by the provision of the preferred form of match holder disclosed in the annexed drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved match holder showing it applied to a package of cigarettes and holding a book of matches, the package of cigarettes being shown in dotted lines as partially removed from the match holder.

Fig. 2 is a left side View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the improved match holder.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the improved match holder is disclosed as comprising a substantially C-shaped casing A adapted to be fitted over and around a conventional package of cigarettes B and to hold a conventional book of matches M. The casing A is preferably, but not necessarily, made of moulded plastic material and comprises a back wall I, an overlying unbroken, 01' imperforate, top wall 2 attached to the back wall, and a bottom wall 3. Formed integrally with the bottom wall is an upstanding lower front wall 4 formed with a channel 5 adapted to receive and hold the lower end 6 of the book of matches M. A downturned upper front wall 1 is formed integrally with the top wall 2 and is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 8 provided with a slot 9 upwardly through which the cover C of the match book M may be passed. Forwardly of the slot 9 of the flange 8 is provided with a bar In over which the cover C may be turned as the lower end of the cover is inserted behind the scratch pad II of the match book.

If desired, the various walls of the casing A may carry advertising matter.

It is the practice of most cigarette smokers to tear away a portion of the top wall of the cigarette package, as indicated by the broken line T in Fig. 3. This provides an opening which gives access to the cigarettes in the package. This practice, however, permits the cigarettes and tobacco from the cigarettes to shake out in the users pocket. Furthermore, it permits air to enter the package which dries out the cigarettes and robs them of their aroma.

Inasmuch as the top wall 2 of my improved holder overlies the top of the cigarette pack it closes the opening made by tearing away of the top wall of the package, thus preventing loss and drying of the cigarettes.

In Figs. 1 and 3 the cigarette package is shown in dotted lines as partly shifted out of the casing A to expose the opened upper end of the package and permit removal of cigarettes therefrom.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this invention has provided a simple, inexpensive and efiicient device for securing a book of matches and a package of cigarettes together so that they can be handled as a unit, both being made available simultaneously, thus obviating the necessity of conducting a separate search for matches after the cigarettes have been found.

It will also be understood that my improved match holder also performs the secondary function of closing the normally opened end of the cigarette package without appreciably interfering with the withdrawal of cigarettes from the package.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A substantially c-shaped casing constructed and arranged to embrace a package of cigarettes, said casing comprising a back Wall, a bottom wall, an unbroken top wall designed to overlie and cover the opened upper end of the cigarette package, an upstanding lower front wall formed integrally with said bottom wall and provided with an upwardly opened channel adapted to receive the lower end of a book of matches, and a downturned upper front wall formed integrally with said top wall and terminating in an outturned flange disposed in parallel and spaced relation with said channel, said flange being provided with a slot extending substantially the length of the flange for receiving and holding the cover of the book of matches held by the lower front wall.

2. A substantially G-shaped casing constructed and arranged to embrace a package of cigarettes,

said casing comprising a back wall, a bottom wall,

an upwardly opened channel adapted to receive the lower end of a book of matches, and a downturned upper front wall formed integrally with 4 said top wall and terminating in a bottom edge disposed in parallel and spaced relation with said channel, said downturned upper front wall being provided with a slot disposed substantially parallel with said bottom edge and extending substantially the width of said downturned wall for receiving and holding the cover of the book of matches held by the lower front wall.

- WILLIAM D. DUNN.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,173 McPherson Nov. 17, 1936 1,904,193 Berg Apr. 18, 1933 1,913,142 Ondricek June 6, 1933 2,010,783 Florman Aug. 6, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 225,464 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1924 

